Air Aspiration Device

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention provide an air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe containing a solution that is to be delivered to a nozzle body. The air aspiration device can include an air port in fluid communication with the air and the solution, an exit port, and a passageway in fluid communication with the air port and the exit port. The air aspiration device can also include a main body and a female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/320,464 filed on Apr. 2, 2010. The entire disclosure of the priorapplication is considered part of the accompanying application and ishereby incorporated therein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The objective of an agricultural crop spraying machine is to effectivelydistribute an agro-chemical spray over the largest area of crop in theleast amount of time. The conventional design for such a machine is awheeled base unit, be it trailed or self-propelled, which carries atank, pump, and controls. The conventional design supplies theagro-chemical to the distribution booms extending from either side ofthe wheeled base unit, perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Nozzle bodies are placed at regular intervals along the spray boom. Thisis referred to as a wet boom configuration. The primary role of thenozzle bodies is to provide a sealed connection between the pipe work ofthe boom supply and the spray tips distributing the agro-chemical. Thenozzle bodies also position the spray tips at the correct angle withrespect to the direction of travel. Each nozzle body has a turret towhich the spray tips are attached to regulate spray pattern and flowrate.

The nozzle body is designed to siphon solution from the pipe or metaltubing from the bottom of the pipe. This orientation causes a situationwhere air, which is normally present in varying concentration, is pumpedinto the boom pipe. Air is less dense than the solution being appliedand is therefore trapped in the top of the boom pipe above the solution.Air is a compressible gas that accumulates in the top of the boom andbuilds in pressure. When the sprayer is shut off at the end of a pass onthe field or when the operator is finished spraying, the pressure in theboom pipe is still greater than the activation pressure in the diaphragmcheck valves (e.g., 0.5 bar) due to the air acting as an accumulator.This creates the problem of the nozzle assemblies continuing to dispensesolution even after the sprayer valve is shut off. As the nozzleassemblies continue to dispense solution, the air pressure in the boompipe decreases as the air volume expands. The nozzles will continue todispense solution until the air pressure in the boom decreases to thepoint where the pressure in the boom equals the activation pressure ofthe diaphragm check valve. With the presence of air in the boom pipe,shutoff times can be delayed by up to eight seconds, resulting in asignificant amount of solution that is applied when and where it is notintended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the invention provide an air aspiration device forreleasing air stored in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzlebody with a feed spigot. The air aspiration device can include a mainbody that engages the pipe. The air aspiration device can also include afemale pipe fitting that can be coupled to the main body. The femalepipe fitting can form an end cap for one end of the pipe. The femalepipe fitting can engage the feed spigot. The device can include an airport in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with thesolution and the air, and can further include a passageway through thefemale pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port.The passageway can deliver both the solution and the air to the feedspigot. The air aspiration device can also include an exit port in thefemale pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the passagewayand that engages the feed spigot.

In another embodiment, the invention can provide an air aspiratorassembly to release air trapped in a pipe when delivering a solution toa nozzle body that includes a feed spigot. The pipe can include anaperture. The assembly can include a main body that engages the pipe.The assembly can also include a female pipe fitting that engages thefeed spigot and a clamp. The female pipe fitting can include an air portthat is in fluid communication with the solution and the air, apassageway that is in fluid communication with the air port so that itcan deliver both the solution and the air to the feed spigot, and anexit port in fluid communication with the passageway and that engagesthe feed spigot. The clamp can include a body portion having an internalsurface with a button. The button can engage the aperture in the pipe inorder to maintain an angular orientation between the main body and thepipe.

The invention can also provide a removable clamp for coupling an adapterto a pipe delivering a solution, the adapter including a first aperture,and the pipe including a second aperture. The removable clamp caninclude a body portion having a first clamp component and a second clampcomponent together creating an internal surface. The clamp can alsoinclude a first button located on the internal surface. The internalsurface of the body portion can engage an outer surface of the adapterso that the first button is received by the first aperture and thesecond aperture in order to maintain an angular relationship between theadapter and the pipe.

In another embodiment, the invention can provide a fluid deliverysystem. The fluid delivery system can include a boom delivering fluidfrom a fluid source, with the boom including a first section with afirst aperture and a second section with a second aperture. The fluiddelivery system can also include a tee adapter coupled to the firstsection and the second section. The tee adapter can receive fluid fromthe fluid source and deliver the fluid to the first section and thesecond section. The fluid delivery system can also include a first clampand a second clamp. The first clamp can include a first button that canbe received by the first aperture. The second clamp can include a secondbutton that can be received by the second aperture. The first clamp cancouple the tee adapter to the first section and the second clamp cancouple the tee adapter to the second section in order to maintain anangular relationship between the first section and the second section.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wet boom incorporating two airaspiration devices.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the air aspiration devices andassociated clamp assembly on the wet boom of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is perspective view showing an internal portion of the airaspiration device assembly in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the air aspiration device assemblyof FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the air aspiration device assemblyof FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air aspiration device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of an air aspirationdevice.

FIG. 7B is a side elevational view of the air aspiration device of FIG.7A.

FIG. 7C is a cross sectional view taken along line 7C-7C of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8A is a side elevational view showing an internal portion of theair aspiration device from FIG. 7A assembled with a boom and nozzlebody.

FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken along line 8B-8B of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention including an air aspiration device assembly on a dry boom.

FIG. 9B is a side elevational view of the air aspiration device assemblyon the dry boom of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is a cross sectional view taken along line 9C-9C of FIG. 9B.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention including an air aspiration device assembly on a wet boom.

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the air aspiration device and thewet boom of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a cross sectional view taken along line 10C-10C of FIG. 10B.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a wet boom end cap.

FIG. 11B is side elevational view of the wet boom end cap of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is a cross sectional view taken along line 11C-11C of FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12A is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of theair aspiration device and clamp assembly.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the assembled air aspiration deviceand clamp assembly of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is a side elevational view showing an internal view of the airaspiration device of FIG. 12B.

FIG. 12D is a cross sectional view taken along line 12D-12D of FIG. 12C.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the airaspiration device and clamp assembly.

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of a female pipe fitting of the airaspiration device of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C is a side elevational view of the air aspirator and clampassembly of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13D is a rear view of the air aspirator and clamp assembly of FIG.13A.

FIG. 13E is a cross sectional view taken along line 13E-13E of FIG. 13C.

FIG. 13F is a perspective view of an alternative female pipe fitting forthe air aspiration device of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13G is a side elevational view of the air aspirator and clampassembly of FIG. 13A with the female pipe fitting of FIG. 13F.

FIG. 13H is a cross sectional view taken along line 13H-13H of FIG. 13G.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a wet boom incorporating two airaspiration devices and clamp assemblies and an integral clamp universalflange tee adapter.

FIG. 14B is a front elevational view of the wet boom of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a wet boom integral clamp universalflange tee adapter and clamp assembly.

FIG. 15B is a side elevational view of the wet boom integral clampuniversal flange tee adapter and clamp assembly of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 15C is a cross sectional view taken along line 15C-15C of FIG. 15B.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a wet boom that includes a malecamlock adapter, a universal flange tee adapter, and a universal flangedadapter attached to the boom with removable clamps.

FIG. 16B is an exploded perspective view of the universal flange adapterand associated clamp assembly of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 16C is a front elevational view of the wet boom of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 16D is a side elevational view of the wet boom of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 16E is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16E-16E of FIG. 16D.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a blank adapter.

FIG. 17B is a perspective view of a camlock adapter.

FIG. 17C is a perspective view of a nozzle body end cap adapter.

FIG. 17D is a perspective view of an hose barb adapter.

FIG. 17E is a perspective view of a universal flange adapter.

FIG. 17F is a perspective view of a universal flange tee adapter.

FIG. 17G is a perspective view of a 90° hose barb adapter.

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a wet boom universal flange adapterwith an integral clamp.

FIG. 18B is a side elevational view of the wet boom universal flangeadapter of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 18C is a cross sectional view taken along line 18C-18C of FIG. 18B.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing the diaphragm check valve response time for anumber of cycles for a wet boom pipe in an air saturated condition whereno new air is introduced into the wet boom.

FIG. 20 is a bar graph illustrating test data shutoff performance fornozzle body diaphragm check valves for a wet boom that includes an airaspiration device embodying the invention versus a wet boom saturatedwith air and a wet boom purged of air.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing the diaphragm check valve performance for astandard boom configuration versus a boom configuration with an airaspirating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein ismeant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereofas well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, theterms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variationsthereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirectmountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected”and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connectionsor couplings.

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in theart to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modificationsto the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of theinvention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to belimited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Thefollowing detailed description is to be read with reference to thefigures, in which like elements in different figures have like referencenumerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depictselected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize theexamples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall withinthe scope of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a spray boom pipe 100 to which several nozzle bodies10 are attached. The spray boom pipe 100 can be an agricultural boom andcan be used for delivering a fluid solution (i.e., water and/orchemicals) to the nozzle bodies 10. Each nozzle body 10 includes spraytips 12, a main body 14, a turret 16, a valve assembly 18, and a pipeclamp 22. As an example in FIG. 1, two spray nozzles 12 are shownattached to ports 15 of the turret 16 of the nozzle body 10. In someembodiments, the turret 16 can include three, four, or five ports 15 toreceive a corresponding number of spray nozzles 12. In some embodiments,the turret 16 can be a multi-port indexable turret. In some embodiments,the valve assembly 18 can be a diaphragm check valve assembly. Two wetboom adapters 103 are also shown in FIG. 1. The wet boom adapters 103include an air aspiration device 102. The adapters 103 can also eachinclude an adapter hinge 21 to attach the air aspiration device 102 tothe spray boom pipe 100.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate an air aspiration device 102 attached to the boom100 with a hose clamp 104. The air aspiration device 102 can form an endcap on an end of the boom 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the air aspirationdevice 102 can include an air port 106 that is in fluid communicationwith the boom 100 and the solution (not shown) it delivers to the nozzlebodies 10. As discussed above, the boom 100 may also include air that istrapped above the solution inside the boom 100. The air aspirationdevice 102 is designed such that the air port 106 is in fluidcommunication not only with the solution in the boom 100, but also withthe air trapped above the solution. This allows the trapped air to besiphoned from the boom 100 and delivered to the nozzle body 10 coupledto the air aspiration device 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates an air aspiration device 102 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The air aspiration device 102 can begenerally cylindrical and can include a main body 112 and a female pipefitting 110. The main body 112 can be designed to engage the boom. Themain body 112 can include a recessed portion 114 with a first shoulder169 and a second shoulder 171. The air aspiration device 102 can includeone or more apertures 116. While the apertures 116 are shown to belocated in the recess 114 in FIG. 6, the apertures 116 may be locatedelsewhere in the air aspiration device 102.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate an alternative embodiment for an air aspirationdevice 202 including a clamp 230 that is integral with the main body212. As shown in FIG. 7C, the clamp 230 includes a button 208 that isdesigned to sealingly engage an aperture in the boom, as will be furtherdescribed below. The clamp 230 includes a body portion 233 with aninternal surface 232 and an external surface 234. The clamp 230 caninclude a first clamping component 236 and a second clamping component238 that are hinged together with a hinge pin 240. A fastener 242 can beused to tighten the internal surface 232 of the clamp against anexterior surface of a boom when attaching the air aspiration device 202to the boom. As shown in FIG. 7A, the air aspiration device 202 caninclude ribs 244 that are beneficial for obtaining a more uniformthickness when manufacturing the device 202.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate another embodiment of an air aspirationdevice 202 assembled on a wet boom pipe 100. A feed spigot 20 can be influid communication with the spray boom pipe 100. A pipe clamp 22 cansecure the nozzle body 10 to the boom 100. The feed spigot 20 can alsobe in fluid communication with a valve chamber 24 via a first or upperfeed point 26 and a second or lower feed point 28. The use of multiplefeed points between the feed spigot 20 and the valve chamber 24 canresult in increased flow capacity with little change in dimensionalenvelope and substantially no change in the geometry of the diaphragmcheck valve assembly 18. In some embodiments, the first feed point 26and the second feed point 28 can break into the valve chamber 14 at boththe top side and the bottom side, respectively. This can allow greaterflow rates and can be achieved with the feed spigot 20 and the main body14 being a single molded piece.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the air aspiration device 202 can include apassageway 218 and an exit port 219. The passageway 218 is in fluidcommunication with the air port 206 and the exit port 219, and also isin fluid communication with the solution and the air in the boom 100.The air port 206 can be formed in the female pip fitting 210 and can bedesigned so that the air port 206 is in fluid communication with theboth the solution and the trapped air in the boom 100. The air port 206can be positioned asymmetrically toward a top portion of the main body212 and the boom 100. The passageway 218 can be designed to alter thedirection of the solution and the air as the solution and the air travelfrom the boom 100 to the exit port 219. For example, the passageway 218can be a right angle passageway. The turbulent flow path can help to mixthe air with the solution to help release trapped air from the boom 100.Additionally, the right angle passageway helps keep the air aspirationdevice 202 from projecting too far from the end of the boom 100 for amore compact overall boom 100 length.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the female pipe fitting 210 engages the feed spigot20. The feed spigot 20 can engage the female pipe fitting 210 at theexit port 219. This engagement allows solution and air trapped in theboom 100 to travel from the boom 100 to the air aspiration device 202,enter the air port 206, and pass through the passageway 218 and the exitport 219 of the air aspiration device 202 as it flows to the nozzle body10 at the feed spigot 20.

Different embodiments of the air aspiration device can be designed toattach to the boom 100 in different ways. For example, the airaspiration device 202 can be designed to clamp to the boom 100 using anintegral clamp 230, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The clamp 230 caninclude an internal surface 232, an external surface 234, a firstclamping component 236, and a second clamping component 238 that arehinged together with a hinge pin 240. A fastener 242 can be used totighten the internal surface 232 of the clamp against an exteriorsurface 111 of a boom 100 when attaching the air aspiration device 402to the boom 100. An internal surface 232 of the clamp 230 can engage anexternal surface 111 of the boom 100, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Theclamp 230 can include a button 208 for engaging an aperture 113 in theboom 100.

The button 208 sealingly engages the air aspiration device 202 to theboom 100. A gasket 215, such as an o-ring, can be used to help seal thebutton 208 and the aperture 113 in the boom 100. In addition, the button208 ensures that the air aspiration device 202 maintains a specificangular orientation with respect to the boom 100. In other words, theair aspiration device 202 can be prevented by the button 208 fromrotating when attached to the boom 100. This helps to ensure that thenozzle body 10 on the end of the boom 100 does not get out of spraytiming with other nozzle bodies 10 located along the length of the boom100. The engagement of the button 208 with the aperture 113 also helpsto maintain the longitudinal placement of the device 202 with respect tothe boom 100.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, an alternative embodiment of an air aspirationdevice 302 can be designed to attach to the boom 100 by having anexternal surface 317 engage an internal surface 121 of the boom 100 (asshown in FIG. 9C). The air aspiration device 302 can include barbs 323to help seal the external surface 317 of a main body 312 of the airaspiration device 302 against the internal surface 121 of the boom 100.The air aspiration device 302 can form an internal end cap for an end ofthe boom 100.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate that the air aspiration device 302 can also beused with a dry boom 107. The dry boom 107 can be used to support thenozzle body 10, and thus, indirectly support the wet boom 100 as well.Dry booms 107 can be used in circumstances where more nozzle bodies 10and/or a longer wet boom 100 are necessary. Although the dry boom 107 isshown in conjunction with a specific embodiment of an air aspirationdevice 302, a dry boom 107 can be used with any of the embodiments ofair aspiration devices as described herein,

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate another alternative embodiment of an airaspiration device 402 where an external surface 417 of the device 402engages the internal surface 121 of the boom 100. A main body 412 isattached to a female pipe fitting 410. In this embodiment, a clip 427can be used to retain the female pipe fitting 410 with respect to theboom 100. The clip 427 passes through a slot 429 in the female pipefitting 410. As shown in FIG. 10C, gasket 431, such as a rubber o-ring,can be used to help seal the external surface 417 of the air aspirationdevice 402 against the internal surface 121 of the boom 100.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate an end cap 550 that can be used on an end of aboom 100. The end cap 550 can include a cap portion 551 and a clampportion 530. The clamp portion 530 of the end cap 550 is similar to theclamp 230 described above and shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. The end cap 550 caninclude a body portion 533 with an internal surface 532, an externalsurface 534, a first clamping component 536, and a second clampingcomponent 538. The first and second clamping components 536, 538 can behinged together with a hinge pin 540 and tightened with a fastener 542.The end cap 550 can also include a button 508 and gaskets 515, 531 tohelp seal the end cap 550 to the boom 100. The end cap 550 can be usefulwhen an operator chooses to place an air aspiration device on one end ofthe boom 100, with an end cap 550 on the other end of the boom 100.

FIGS. 12A-12D illustrate another embodiment of an air aspirationassembly 600. The assembly 600 can include an air aspiration device 602and a removable clamp 660. FIG. 12A illustrates the assembly 600 in anexploded view, and FIG. 12B illustrates the assembly 600 in an assembledcondition. The air aspiration device 602 can include a main body 612, afemale pipe fitting 610, a recessed portion 614, and an external surface617. The device 602 can include apertures 616.

The removable clamp 660 can include a body portion 663 with an internalsurface 662, an external surface 664, and buttons 608. The clamp 660 canalso include a first side 667 and a second side 668. The clamp 660 caninclude a first clamping component 670 and a second clamping component672. Each clamp component 670, 672 can include a first flange 674 and asecond flange 676 with holes 678 for receiving fasteners 680.

When assembled, the internal surface 662 of the removable clamp 660 isdesigned to engage an external surface 617 of the air aspiration device602 (as best shown in FIG. 12A), with the buttons 608 sealingly engagingthe apertures 616 in the air aspiration device 602 (as best shown inFIG. 12D). Although a boom 100 is not shown in FIGS. 12A-12D, thebuttons 608 can be designed to sealingly engage apertures in the boom,as discussed above. Gaskets 615, such as a rubber o-ring, can be usedalong with buttons 608 and to help seal the apertures 616 in the airaspiration device 602 to the boom 100. Gaskets 631 also help to seal thedevice 602 to the boom 100. The removable clamp 660 can fit snugly inthe recessed portion 614 of the air aspiration device 602 so that thefirst side 667 engages a first shoulder 669 of the recessed portion 614and the second side 668 engages a second shoulder 671 of the recessedportion 614. This engagement helps to prevent the air aspiration device602 from moving longitudinally with respect to the boom 100.

FIG. 12D illustrates that the air aspiration device 602 can incorporatea drain passage 635. The drain passage 635 is in fluid communicationwith the solution that is carried by the boom 100 and with thepassageway 618, and can be located below the air port 606. The drainpassage 635 can be sized to be smaller than the air port 606, so thatthe majority of the solution and the air trapped in the boom 100 aredelivered through the passageway 618 by entering at the air port 606. Inone embodiment, the drain passage 635 is generally circular and is about4.5 mm in diameter; however, the drain passage 635 can have other sizesand shapes.

The drain passage 635 can allow an operator to drain the boom 100 at afaster rate. In embodiments where the air aspiration device does notinclude a drain passage 635, the solution near the end of the boom 100near the air aspiration device needs to drain from the boom 100 bydraining from a more internal nozzle body 10 that siphons solutionthrough an aperture on the bottom of the boom 100. This can result inincreased draining times for the boom 100 and, if the boom 100 is notperfectly level, may result in solution collecting near an end of theboom 100 and not fully draining from the boom 100.

FIGS. 13A-13G illustrate another embodiment of the air aspiration device702 with a removable clamp 660. FIGS. 13A-13G also illustrate an airaspiration device 702 where a female pipe fitting 710 is removable froma main body 712 of the air aspiration device 702. The female pipefitting 710 can be removed if the boom 100 becomes plugged or clogged.

The air aspiration device 702 can include a clip 727 that fits withinslots 737 in the female pipe fitting 710 and slots 739 in the main body712 in order to retain the female pipe fitting 710 with respect to themain body 712. If the clip 727 is removed, the female pipe fitting 712can be removed from the main body 712. FIG. 13B illustrates the femalepipe fitting 710 removed from the main body 712. As shown in FIG. 13E,the air aspiration device 702 can also include a passageway 718, an airport 706, an exit port 719, and a drain passage 735.

The female pipe fitting 710 can include an outer surface 741 withdifferent features. In one embodiment, the female pipe fitting 710 caninclude an outer surface 741 with a grip 743 as shown in FIGS. 13A-13E.The grip 743 can help a user remove the female pipe fitting 710 from themain body 712 of the air aspiration device 702. In another embodiment,the outer surface 741 can include a hose barb connection 745, as shownin FIGS. 13F-13H. The hose barb connection 745 can be in fluidcommunication with the passageway 718 and can be used to recycle fluidor provide solution to another nozzle body 10.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate a fluid delivery system 800. The system 800 caninclude a boom 100, multiple nozzle bodies 10, pipe clamps 22, and airaspiration devices 102. The boom 100 can include a first section 100 aand a second section 100 b. The nozzle bodies 10 can be spaced along theboom 100 at regular intervals. The fluid delivery system 800 can alsoinclude an integral clamp universal flange tee adapter 882. The teeadapter 882 can be attached to an exterior surface 111 of the boom 100with the clamps 830 that are integral to the adapter 882. The clamps 830couple the first section 100 a and the second section 100 b to the teeadapter 882 and maintain the first section 100 a and the second section100 b in rotational alignment, or rotationally timed. In other words,the clamps 830 maintain an angular relationship between the firstsection 100 a and the second section 100 b of the boom 100. A fluidsource (not shown) can be in fluid communication with the adapter 882.The fluid can flow through the hollow channel of the boom 100 to thenozzle bodies 10 by passing through apertures in the boom 100 for thenozzle bodies 10 that are not on the ends of the boom 100, or throughthe exit ports in the air aspiration devices 102. Although the fluiddelivery system 800 in FIGS. 14A-14C shows an air aspiration device 102on each end of the boom 100, an air aspiration device 102 need not be oneach end of the boom 100 to remove trapped air from the boom 100.Rather, an end cap 550 or other device can be placed on one end of theboom 100. Any of the air aspiration devices discussed herein can be usedin the fluid delivery system 800.

FIGS. 15A-15C further illustrate the integral clamp universal flange teeadapter 882 of FIGS. 14A-14C. The adapter 882 can include a main body883 and a flange 884. The tee adapter 882 can also include two clamps830 that are integral with the main body 883 of the adapter 882. Theclamps 830 are of similar construction to the clamps 230, 530 discussedabove with respect to the air aspiration device 202 and end cap 502. Theclamps 830 can include buttons 808 that sealingly engage apertures inthe boom 100, as described above, and can include gaskets 815. Theclamps 830 can include a body portion 833 with an internal surface 832and an external surface 834. Additionally, the clamps 830 can include afirst clamping component 836 and a second clamping component 838 thatare hinged together with a hinge pin 840. Fasteners 842 can be used totighten the internal surfaces 832 of the clamps 830 against an exteriorsurface of a boom when attaching the tee adapter 882 to the boom, asdiscussed above for FIGS. 14A and 14B.

FIGS. 16A-16E illustrates other types of adapters that can beincorporated into the fluid delivery system 800 with removable clamps660. For example, the fluid delivery system 800 can include a universalflange tee adapter 886, a universal flange adapter 888, and a camlockadapter 890 each attached to the boom 100 with removable clamps 660. Theremovable clamps 660 can couple the universal flange tee adapter 886 tothe first section 100 a of the boom 100 and to the second section 100 bof the boom 100 in order to maintain an angular relationship between thefirst section 100 a and the second section 100 b. Adapters 886, 888, 890are further shown in FIGS. 17F, 17E, and 17B, respectively. FIGS.16A-16E also illustrate apertures 113 in the boom where nozzle bodiesmay be attached to be in fluid communication with the boom 100.

The fluid delivery system 800 can also be configured to incorporate oneor more of the other adapters shown in FIGS. 17A-17G. FIG. 17Aillustrates a blank adapter 887, FIG. 17C illustrates a nozzle body endcap adapter 891, FIG. 17D illustrates a hose barb (HB) adapter 892, andFIG. 17G illustrates a 90° hose barb (HB) adapter 893. The fluiddelivery system 800 can also be configured to incorporate adapters of asimilar nature.

The adapters shown in FIGS. 17A-17G can attach to the boom 100 in asimilar manner with one or more removable clamps 660. FIGS. 16B and 16Cillustrate how the universal flange adapter 888 of FIG. 17E is attachedto a boom 100. The adapter 888 can include an internal surface 889 thatslides over the external surface 111 of the boom 100. One or moreapertures 816 in the adapter 888 align with apertures 113 in the boom100. The clamping components 670, 672 can be placed in a recessedportion 814 of the adapter 888 that includes apertures 816. The clampingcomponents 670, 672 can be placed within the recessed portion 814 sothat the buttons 608 align with the apertures 816 of the adapter 888 andthe apertures 113 in the boom 100. Fasteners 680 can tighten the twoclamping components 670, 672 together and the buttons 608 of the clamp660 then sealingly engage the apertures 816 of the adapter 888 and theapertures 113 in the boom 100. The adapter 888 can also include a firstshoulder 869 that engages the first side 667 of the clamp 660 and asecond shoulder 871 that engages a second side 671 of the clamp 660.This engagement ensures that the adapter 888 maintains its position withrespect to the boom 100 longitudinally and angularly.

All of the adapters shown in FIGS. 17A-17G, and other similar adapters,can be attached to the boom 100 with a removable clamp 660 in a similarfashion to that as described above with respect to the adapter 888.

Alternatively, the adapters shown in FIGS. 17A-17G, and other similaradapters, can be configured with an integral clamp for attaching theadapters to the boom 100. One such example already discussed above isthe universal flange tee adapter 882 shown in FIGS. 15A-15C. Anotherexample is the universal flange adapter 988 shown in FIGS. 18A-18C.Similar to the adapter 888 discussed above, the adapter 988 can includean internal surface 989 for engaging the external surface 111 of theboom 100. The adapter 988 includes an integral clamp 930, similar to theintegral clamps 230, 530, and 830 discussed above. The integral clamp930 provides another way to attach the adapters to the boom to maintainthe adapters in a fixed longitudinal and angular position with respectto the boom.

The air aspiration devices described above provide several advantagesfor fluid delivery systems 800. By siphoning solution from a pointhigher than the bottom of the boom 100, the air aspiration devicesreduce the amount of air that can be trapped in the boom 100. The aircan also become mixed in the solution due to the turbulent flow causedby the passageway in the air aspiration devices altering the path of thesolution and air as they flow from the boom 100 to the feed spigot 20 ofthe nozzle body 10.

The air aspiration devices also reduce the shut-off time of thediaphragm check valve 18. This results in less solution being dispersedthat is not intended to be dispersed by the fluid delivery system 800.The air aspiration devices reduce the amount of air trapped in the boom100 and reduce the pressure in the boom 100. Therefore, when the fluiddelivery system 800 is shut off, the pressure in the boom is onlyslightly above the shut-off pressure of the check valve 18 in the nozzlebody 10. This reduction in pressure of air in the boom 100 also helpsreduce pressure variation among the nozzle bodies 10 along the length ofthe boom 100, which results in a more even application of solution tothe targeted application. FIGS. 19-21 help illustrate the magnitude ofthe reduction of the response time for check valves 18 in a fluiddelivery system 800 that employs an air aspiration device according toembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating the diaphragm check valve 18 responsetime for a nozzle body 10 shown as the number of cycles versus time forthe response of the diaphragm check valve 18 with the wet boom pipe 100in an air saturation condition. If no new air is introduced, after aboutsix cycles, the response time for the check valve 18 to shut off isreduced from over about five seconds to about two seconds. Thus, for asystem 800 not employing an air aspiration device, the response time ofthe check valve 18 is only lowered after several cycles.

FIG. 20 is a bar graph illustrating shut-off performance test data ofdiaphragm check valves 18 in a fluid delivery system using an airaspiration device, versus a wet boom pipe without an air aspirationdevice, in a boom with air and a boom without air. As shown in the bargraph, the response time of the diaphragm check valve 18 of the fluiddelivery system without an air aspiration device in a wet boom pipe withtrapped air was significantly higher (5.59 seconds) than the other twoscenarios. The response time for the fluid delivery system with an airaspiration device was very similar to the response time of a fluiddelivery system without an air aspiration device but having a wet boomcompletely saturated with fluid.

FIG. 21 is a graph illustrating diaphragm check valve performance bycomparing the response time for check valves for a fluid delivery systemincorporating an air aspiration device to the response time for checkvalves for a system without an air aspiration device. The response timefor the diaphragm check valves for the two systems was checked atdifferent pressures. As shown by the graph, the fluid delivery systemwith the air aspiration device recorded much shorter response times thanthe system without the air aspiration device, especially at lowerpressures.

Additionally, the air aspiration devices are a passive system thatrequire no electronics or power. As such, the air aspiration devicesprovide a consistent and robust system for reducing the amount oftrapped air in a boom.

The air aspiration devices can be manufactured from materials including,but not limited to, polypropylene and polyoxymethylene.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while theinvention has been described above in connection with particularembodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily so limited,and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications anddepartures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to beencompassed by the claims attached hereto.

1. An air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe whendelivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feedspigot, the air aspiration device comprising: a main body that engagesthe pipe; a female pipe fitting coupled to the main body, the femalepipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe and engaging thefeed spigot; an air port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluidcommunication with the solution and the air; a passageway through thefemale pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port,the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feedspigot; and an exit port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluidcommunication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exitport.
 2. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the main body isintegral with the female pipe fitting and the air port is positionedasymmetrically toward a top portion of the main body and the pipe. 3.The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the passageway alters thedirection of the solution and the air between the air port and the exitport.
 4. The air aspiration device of claim 3, wherein the passagewayforms a right angle between the air port and the exit port.
 5. The airaspiration device of claim 1, and further comprising a drain passage influid communication with the solution in the pipe and in fluidcommunication with the passageway, the drain passage being located belowthe air port.
 6. The air aspiration device of claim 5, wherein the drainpassage is sized so that a majority of the solution and the air enterthe passageway at the air port.
 7. The air aspiration device of claim 1,wherein an exterior surface of the air aspiration device engages aninterior surface of the pipe.
 8. The air aspiration device of claim 7,wherein the exterior surface is on the female pipe fitting.
 9. The airaspiration device of claim 1, wherein the female pipe fitting isremovable from the main body.
 10. The air aspiration device of claim 1,wherein an outer surface of the female pipe fitting includes a hose barbconnection.
 11. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the femalepipe fitting includes a slot that receives a clip in order to retain thefemale pipe fitting.
 12. The air aspiration device of claim 1, whereinan interior surface of the air aspiration device engages an exteriorsurface of the pipe.
 13. The air aspiration device of claim 1, whereinthe main body includes a recessed portion, a first shoulder, and asecond shoulder, the first shoulder being on an opposite side of therecessed portion from the second shoulder.
 14. The air aspiration deviceof claim 13, wherein the recessed portion includes a first aperture andthe pipe includes a second aperture, the first aperture and the secondaperture receiving a first button of a removable clamp to maintain anangular relationship between the air aspiration device and the pipe. 15.The air aspiration device of claim 14, wherein the recessed portionincludes a third aperture and the pipe includes a fourth aperture, thethird aperture and the fourth aperture receiving a second button of theremovable clamp to further maintain the angular relationship between theair aspiration device and the pipe.
 16. The air aspiration device ofclaim 14, wherein the first shoulder engages a first side of theremovable clamp and the second shoulder engages a second side of theremovable clamp.
 17. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein themain body further includes an integral clamp with an interior surfaceand an exterior surface, the interior surface engaging an outer surfaceof the pipe.
 18. The air aspiration device of claim 17, wherein theinterior surface includes a button and the pipe includes an aperture,the button received by the aperture when the air aspiration device isclamped to the pipe in order to maintain an angular orientation betweenthe air aspiration device and the pipe.
 19. The air aspiration device ofclaim 1, wherein the pipe is an agricultural boom.
 20. The airaspiration device of claim 1, wherein the solution is an agriculturalchemical.
 21. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the nozzlebody receives at least three spray nozzles.
 22. An air aspiratorassembly to release air trapped in a pipe when delivering a solution toa nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the pipeincluding an aperture, the assembly comprising: a main body that engagesthe pipe; a female pipe fitting that engages the feed spigot, the femalepipe fitting including an air port, a passageway, and an exit port, theair port in fluid communication with the solution and the air, thepassageway in fluid communication with the air port, the passagewaydelivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot, the exitport in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigotengaging the exit port; and a clamp including a body portion having aninternal surface with a button, the button engaging the aperture in thepipe in order to maintain an angular orientation between the main bodyand the pipe.
 23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the clamp isintegral with the main body.
 24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein thefemale pipe fitting forms an end cap for one end of the pipe.
 25. Theassembly of claim 22, wherein the main body includes a second apertureand the clamp is removable from the main body, the button engaging thesecond aperture in addition to the aperture in the pipe in order tomaintain the angular orientation between the main body and the pipe. 26.The assembly of claim 25, wherein the main body includes a recessedportion, a first shoulder, and a second shoulder, the first shoulderbeing on an opposite side of the recessed portion from the secondshoulder.
 27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the first shoulderengages a first side of the clamp and the second shoulder engages asecond side of the clamp.
 28. The assembly of claim 22, and furthercomprising a gasket engaging the button to create a seal between thebutton and the aperture.
 29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein theinternal surface of the clamp includes a second button, the main bodyincludes a third aperture and the pipe includes a fourth aperture, thesecond button engaging the third aperture and the fourth aperture tofurther maintain the angular orientation between the main body and thepipe.
 30. The assembly of claim 29, and further comprising a secondgasket engaging the second button to create a seal between the secondbutton and the third aperture and the fourth aperture.
 31. A removableclamp for coupling an adapter to a pipe delivering a solution, theadapter including a first aperture, the pipe including a secondaperture, the removable clamp comprising: a body portion having a firstclamp component and a second clamp component together creating aninternal surface; and a first button located on the internal surface;the internal surface engaging an outer surface of the adapter so thatthe first button is received by the first aperture and the secondaperture in order to maintain an angular relationship between theadapter and the pipe.
 32. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein theadapter is a nozzle body end cap adapter that engages a nozzle body, andthe nozzle body end cap adapter is in fluid communication with a feedspigot of a nozzle body.
 33. The removable clamp of claim 31, whereinthe first clamp component includes a first flange and a second flange,the first flange and the second flange each having a hole for receivinga fastener.
 34. The removable clamp of claim 33, wherein the secondclamp component includes a third flange and a fourth flange, the thirdflange and the fourth flange each having a hole for receiving thefasteners.
 35. The removable clamp of claim 34, and further comprising asecond button on the internal surface, wherein the first button is onthe first clamp component, the second button is on the second clampcomponent, the adapter includes a third aperture, and the pipe includesa fourth aperture, the second button being received by the thirdaperture and the fourth aperture when clamping the adapter to the pipeto further maintain the angular relationship between the adapter and thepipe.
 36. The removable clamp of claim 35, and further comprising afirst gasket and a second gasket, the first gasket engaging the firstbutton and the second gasket engaging the second button, the firstgasket and the second gasket creating a seal between the adapter and thepipe.
 37. A fluid delivery system comprising: a boom delivering fluidfrom a fluid source, the boom including a first section with a firstaperture and a second section with a second aperture; a tee adaptercoupled to the first section and the second section, the tee adapterreceiving fluid from the fluid source and delivering the fluid to thefirst section and the second section; a first clamp including a firstbutton, the first button being received by the first aperture; and asecond clamp including a second button, the second button being receivedby the second aperture; the first clamp coupling the tee adapter to thefirst section and the second clamp coupling the tee adapter to thesecond section in order to maintain an angular relationship between thefirst section and the second section.
 38. The fluid delivery system ofclaim 37, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are integral tothe tee adapter.
 39. The fluid delivery system of claim 37, wherein thefirst clamp and the second clamp are removable clamps.
 40. The fluiddelivery system of claim 37, and further comprising: a plurality ofnozzle bodies coupled to the boom, each one of the plurality of nozzlebodies including a feed spigot in fluid communication with the boom anda valve; and an air aspiration device coupled to a first end of theboom, the air aspiration device releasing air trapped above the fluid tolower an air pressure in the boom in order to reduce a shut-off time ofthe valve.
 41. The system of claim 40, and further comprising a secondair aspiration device coupled to a second end of the boom.